Windows Backup Disc Image

[mjf]

I've no idea what your router reference is about.
I doubt Paragon will be a fix.
Your screen shot indicates an 88gB to be imaged. This should take around 40 minutes. for a full image.
Paid Macrium will do incrementals. Incrementals can be risky.
You need to start exploring why you can't get a Macrium image down to around the 40min mark.

Also, when you get that sorted you can consider going back to your original strategy of having a data partition BUT your C: partition needs to be made a logical (extended) partition. Then you can add as many additional logical partitions as you like and still keep your disk basic.

 

[Wasila]

The router reference is as the hard drive I am backing up to is plugged into my router.

How about differentials? Are these risky? If they are, how so? If not, then perhaps Paragon could be a fix - it supports them.

What is an 88gB?

I do still have an empty data partition - I'm not sure what you mean at the end.

 

[mjf]

My comment re differentials is a personal view when it comes to imaging. I have been led to believe that one "bad" differential can harm the lot. Best ignore the comment as it's not based on my direct experience.

As for "88gB" read 88GB - your screenshot post #20. This is the amount Macrium says you're imaging I think.
Can you send a new Disk management screen shot after your dynamic to Basic conversion and specify the partition you are imaging.

 

[Wasila]

Oh, I see... But since I can do a full backup every once in a while I'm thinking it's not so bad?

I am imaging this entire disk.

 

[mjf]

A couple of issues.
1)
With Macrium you only need a couple of images of the Recovery partition.
Anyway your imaging times appear far too high.
Try imaging just the c: partition which appears to be ~72GB.
2)
Your disk partitions need work.
System (199MB), Recovery and what used to be Tools (103MB unallocated) need eventually to be PRIMARY type partitions (dark blue).
http://partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html
I assumed you used the Partition Wizard (PW) 4.2 to make the disk basic.
Now down load the current free Partition Wizard BOOTABLE v5.2 iso and burn a boot CD/DVD.
http://partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html

You can try the following:
1) Make a system repair disk if you don't have one. See option in Windows Backup & restore screen)
2) Using PW 5.2 boot CD make F: then C: logical partitions. Applying changes.
3) Check that your PC boots ok.
4) If no. Run System repair up to 3 times.
5) If still no use PW and convert C: & F: back to primary.
6) With C: and F: logical and PC booting. Use PW 5.2 to make Recovery, D: Primary. Do not touch the unallocated.
7) Run Partition Recovery Wizard and attempt to recover the unallocated partition. If successful make the partition primary and name it HP Tools etc.

 

[RGDave]

Just a few quick questions about the disc image tool in Windows Backup. Does it restore programs? By this I mean if I restore the disc, will all the programs be fully functioning? I was under the impression that this is so, but I have also been told that it is not.

By my understanding, if you use the restore option from within a windows O.S. and use a complete back-up, everything will return to normal.

If you decide to make/take a system image, then you would either restore using the interface with the software (paragon or acronis) from within a working windows environment or you will have created start-up disks according to the instructions (again, from the software).

Trying to use a system image on another computer will almost certainly fail. Forget the "legal" issues comment.....the chances of adding a software program to another computer is almost zero.

 

[Wasila]

Thanks for the extra advice, RGDave.

mjf, I will look through your instructions tomorrow, however in the meantime I was just wondering what the actual difference is between logical and primary partitions. What are the advantages/disadvantages/risks of changing between them?

Thanks,
Wasila

 

[mjf]

In terms of risks you should have backups/images before making changes to partitions or at least the ability to restore to factory settings. Partition changes can always go wrong.
You should have made a set (~2) factory restore DVDs when you first bought your PC or order them from the manufacturer. Ideally before you added the data partition initially and your disk went dynamic you should have backed up your personal data and made factory recovery DVDs.

Primary vs logical:
A partition table at the front of the disk, for historic reasons, has space for 4 (primary) partitions. It describes how big they are (max. 2TB) and where they live on the disk.
To overcome the limitation of just 4 partitions, one of the partitions can be defined as an extended partition and contain many logical partitions. The size and location of the logical partitions lives on the extended partition, not at the front of the disk.

 

[Wasila]

I have successfully changed all the partitions and restored HP Tools - thanks for that!

Is this also expected to speed up the imaging time, or is that a different issue?

 

[Wasila]

I think it must be a network issue. Upon plugging the hard drive directly into the computer, the transfer route went up by a factor of 8 or 9 to over 200MB/s, with an estimated completion time of under an hour. So much for this fancy new router...

 

[Wasila]

Hmm... the main issue isn't really solved. What I'd like is a program which does a full image once, and then updates this same file with whatever changes have taken place on a regular basis - this means that the transfer speed issue is irrelevant as the whole disk will only be backup up once.

Is this possible without spending any money?

 

[Wasila]

I was testing a Paragon disc image and I got Unable to write file
Source: Hard Disk Manager
Code: 0x11025

Any ideas?